Read Saints of the Shadow Bible (Rebus) for Free Online

the phone down again. Their waiter had returned to ask how they were enjoying the wine. ‘It’s fine,’ Clarke told him, though she noticed Galvin hadn’t touched his. Nor had he made much headway with the aperitif.
    ‘Keeping a clear head for the morning?’ she chided him.
    ‘Something like that,’ he replied.
    Half an hour later, as the plates from their main courses were cleared, they were asked if they wanted to see the dessert list. Clarke looked at her companion and shook her head.
    ‘Any teas or coffees?’
    Clarke and Galvin shared another look. ‘There’s coffee back at mine,’ he offered.
    ‘And broadband?’ she queried.
    ‘And broadband,’ he confirmed. Then, after a pause: ‘Is this us continuing the consultation?’
    ‘It is,’ Clarke said with a widening smile.
    Rebus only had the one drink at the Oxford Bar, then took a cab back to the car park at Gayfield Square so he could pick up his Saab. He knew he could always change his mind, but knew too that he probably wouldn’t. The lights were red at South Clerk Street. If he signalled right, he would be heading home. But when the light turned green he went straight ahead, towards Cameron Toll and Old Dalkeith Road. This time of night, the car parks at the Royal Infirmary were half empty, but Rebus pulled up at a double yellow line, sliding out the POLICE OFFICIAL BUSINESS sign from beneath the passenger seat and wedging it between dashboard and windscreen. He popped a stick of peppermint gum into his mouth, locked the car and walked into the hospital.
    He was nearing Jessica’s room when the door opened. He recognised Alice Bell. She was with a young man. He had tousled hair and wore faded baggy denims, plus a black V-neck T-shirt. Clean-shaven, with pale green eyes.
    ‘Bit of a limp you’ve got there,’ Rebus said, indicating Forbes McCuskey’s left leg.
    ‘Twisted my ankle.’
    ‘Any whiplash to go with that?’
    Bell was squeezing McCuskey’s forearm. ‘This is the policeman,’ she told him.
    ‘I’d kind of worked that out.’
    Rebus slid his hands into his pockets. ‘Any chance we could have a word, Forbes?’
    ‘What about?’
    ‘Jessica’s accident.’
    ‘What do you need to speak to me for?’
    ‘We usually like to interview witnesses – helps us compile an accurate picture . . .’
    ‘But I wasn’t there.’
    ‘And your ankle’s just a coincidence?’
    ‘Happened a few days back in the stairwell at Great King Street.’
    ‘That’s true,’ Alice Bell confirmed hurriedly.
    Rebus nodded slowly, eyes flitting between the two. ‘Coincidence, then. But we’d still like to get a few details from you.’
    ‘Tonight?’
    ‘Tomorrow will do. You could come to Gayfield Square at ten.’
    McCuskey thought for a moment. ‘Ten should be okay,’ he decided.
    Rebus handed him a card with his number on. ‘In case of complications. And if you need a lift back into town, I’ll be heading that way in five minutes.’
    ‘We’ve got a taxi coming,’ Bell said.
    ‘Tomorrow, then.’
    ‘Tomorrow,’ Forbes McCuskey agreed.
    Jessica’s father had appeared in the doorway. ‘Everything okay?’ he asked.
    ‘Fine, sir,’ Rebus assured him, watching as McCuskey and Bell headed for the exit. Rebus turned towards Traynor. ‘Still managing to stay awake, then?’
    ‘I’ve found a hotel room in town. They’re sending a car for me in half an hour or so.’
    They had made their way into the room. ‘Hello again,’ Rebus said by way of greeting to Jessica Traynor.
    ‘Hello,’ she answered.
    ‘Nice of your friends to drop in.’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘Especially when it’s such an effort for Forbes, him having hurt his leg and all.’
    She didn’t bother replying.
    ‘Is there something I should know?’ Traynor asked.
    Rebus shrugged. ‘Not really, sir. Just that there’s a train of thought says maybe a careful driver wasn’t behind the wheel.’ He turned towards the patient. She still lay flat on her back, and her hair